1
as in to disobey
to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of
in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to confront
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage
a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to resist
to refuse to give in to
a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defy
In El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele is defying constitutional, political, and legal constraints.
—
Elisa Manfredini, Time, 14 June 2025
So far, the economy has defied fears of price hikes, instead giving way to a cooldown of inflation over the months since Trump took office.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 June 2025
And then there are disrupters—such as Iran, Russia, and Venezuela—that defy global norms, sponsor foreign militias, and invade neighbors.
—Michael L. Ross, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2025
The Department of Justice announced a civil lawsuit against Maine’s Department of Education in April after the state repeatedly defied the Trump administration’s orders to bar transgender student-athletes from girls’ sports.
—Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Elisa Manfredini, Time, 14 June 2025
So far, the economy has defied fears of price hikes, instead giving way to a cooldown of inflation over the months since Trump took office.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 June 2025
And then there are disrupters—such as Iran, Russia, and Venezuela—that defy global norms, sponsor foreign militias, and invade neighbors.
—Michael L. Ross, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2025
The Department of Justice announced a civil lawsuit against Maine’s Department of Education in April after the state repeatedly defied the Trump administration’s orders to bar transgender student-athletes from girls’ sports.
—Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
-
Thousands of people were arrested by the LAPD and other agencies for failure to disperse, disobeying a lawful order and other minor offenses following the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, but both the Los Angeles city attorney’s office and former Dist.—
Salvador Hernandez,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2025
-
Federal judges ruled Thursday that Alabama intentionally discriminated against Black residents when the state disobeyed court orders to draw a second Black-majority congressional district.—
Cheyanne M. Daniels,
The Hill,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
Yet regardless of the opposition to U.S. intervention in Iran from the isolationists and progressives — who wouldn’t dare claim Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful — was President Donald Trump overstepping his legal boundaries?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
-
And a United States senator literally wrestled to the ground for daring to ask basic questions.—
Kristen Waggoner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
In late 1996, Cochran finally got a chance to confront Butler.—
Christopher Goffard,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
-
After the briefing ended, at least one reporter appeared to confront the man, a Lindell TV employee named Girish Gaur, for his actions.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Texas is big—two hundred and sixty-nine thousand square miles—and has resisted canvassing efforts for decades.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
-
Founders who micromanage, resist feedback or avoid tough decisions often stall progress—not because the business lacks potential, but because the leader hasn’t adapted to what growth really requires.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
The intent is to trick recipients into ignoring usual government advice as Iranian attacks continue.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
Only 19% of Americans think the administration can ignore the ruling.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
USA Today,
17 June 2025
Verb
-
In their suit, the two gas companies are challenging PURA decisions late last year that reduced their rates.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2025
-
Attorneys for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, the Farmworker Association of Florida and two individual plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of the law in April.—
Jim Saunders,
Sun Sentinel,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Denmark face France and Germany play Italy in the remaining two other quarter-finals on Sunday.—
Nnamdi Onyeagwara,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
-
Limited to only 60-70 pitches, the 24-year-old Tidwell threw 74 of them, with Mendoza wanting left-hander Jose Castillo to face No. 9 hitter Brandon Marsh, another lefty.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2025
Verb
-
Adding this kind of power alongside Aaron Judge would create nightmares for opposing pitchers.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
-
The Federal Reserve’s vice-chair for supervision Michelle Bowman is now the second Fed official to support rate cuts as soon as July, opposing Fed chair Jerome Powell.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share